Category Archives: AAFS

Forensics: Expert in ancient DNA and wildlife forensics helps identify Oct. 7 massacre victims | The Times of Israel

Posted on December 11, 2023 by csidds

Hebrew University Prof. Gila Kahila Bar-Gal uses her knowledge of difficult DNA extraction and physical anthropology as she volunteers at Abu Kabir — Read on http://www.timesofisrael.com/expert-in-ancient-dna-and-wildlife-forensics-helps-identify-oct-7-massacre-victims/

Posted in AAFS, DNA profiling, Forensic Science, human identification | Leave a comment

Forensics: Getting rid of bitemark believers. Updated Evidence Rule Warns Judges Against Junk Science

Posted on December 1, 2023 by csidds

Changes to a new federal rule of evidence will go into effect on Friday, reminding judges that they should be extra vigilant about not allowing “junk science” from expert witnesses to reach juries. — Read on news.bloomberglaw.com/employee-benefits/updated-evidence-rule-warns-judges-against-junk-science

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, criminal justice, expert testimony, forensic evidence exaggeration, forensic science misconduct, junk forensic science, wrongful convictions | Leave a comment

Forensics: 44 exoneration cases involving bitemark opinions had a 77% error rate. The Impact of False or Misleading Forensic Evidence on Wrongful Convictions | National Institute of Justice

Posted on November 29, 2023 by csidds

Wrongful conviction, or the conviction of a person for a crime that they did not commit, is one of the greatest travesties of the criminal justice system. As of 2023, The National Registry of Exonerations has recorded over 3,000 cases … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, exoneration, Exoneration costs, expert testimony, Forensic Science Bias, junk forensic science, Ray Krone bitemark case, William Richards Exoneration Case | Leave a comment

Forensics: Unfair Ballistics examiners wrongly describe some results, Iowa State profs say

Posted on November 27, 2023 by csidds

When ballistics experts say a match between 2 bullet casings is ‘inconclusive,’ it nearly always means a non-match, a result that could help defendants — Read on http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2023/11/27/forensic-ballistics-examiners-results-questioned-in-isu-research-iowa-state-evidence-crime-scene/71584697007/

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, costs of wrongful convictions, exoneration, expert testimony, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science misconduct | Leave a comment

Forensics: Right to ‘bodily autonomy’ upheld. ‘Disproven and unsupportable’: Kansas judge blocks junk science abortion restrictions – Kansas Reflector

Posted on October 31, 2023 by csidds

A Kansas judge blocked several long-standing and newly-implemented abortion restrictions in the state on Monday. — Read on kansasreflector.com/2023/10/30/disproven-and-unsupportable-kansas-judge-blocks-junk-science-abortion-restrictions/

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, Civil rights, Forensic Science Bias, human rights violations, junk forensic science | Leave a comment

Forensics: NamUs Missing Persons cases. 600K reports a year.

Posted on October 29, 2023 by csidds

http://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/10/28/missing-persons-day-dc/

Posted in AAFS, human identification, missing persons | Leave a comment

Forensics: Do this for bitemarks please. Colorado may soon bar police and coroners from referencing “excited delirium” in lethal force cases

Posted on October 21, 2023 by csidds

The now-debunked diagnosis has been widely used by police and paramedics to justify the use of force — even lethal force — in cases where they say suspects exhibit superhuman strength and extreme agitation. — Read on http://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-may-soon-bar-police-coroners-referencing-excited-delirium-lethal-force-cases/

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, Excited delerium is bs in custody restraint deaths, forensic fraud, forensic science misconduct, junk forensic science | Leave a comment

Forensics: Heavy use of rapid DNA. Foreign media given unprecedented access to forensic institute to witness atrocities

Posted on October 18, 2023 by csidds

Staff at Abu Kabir work 24/7 along with colleagues in IDF and police to identify victims of mass butchery by Hamas terrorists; in some cases identification likely impossible — Read on http://www.timesofisrael.com/foreign-media-given-unprecedented-access-to-forensic-institute-to-witness-atrocities/

Posted in AAFS, DNA profiling, genocide, Holocaust, human identification | Leave a comment

Forensics: Mass casualty ID in Israel. ‘I only knew that from the Nazis’: Israeli forensic experts identify tortured and burned bodies

Posted on October 16, 2023 by csidds

Experts say they have found evidence of decapitation, rape and people being burned alive. — Read on http://www.politico.eu/article/i-only-knew-that-from-the-nazis-what-israeli-forensics-have-been-seeing-for-days/

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, DNA profiling, Forensic Science, human identification, human rights violations, missing persons | Leave a comment

Forensics: A medieval test in use. “Unreliable” Lung Float Test Still Being Used to Convict Women of Murder — ProPublica

Posted on October 7, 2023 by csidds

The “lung float” test claims to help determine if a baby was born alive or dead, but many medical examiners say it’s too unreliable. Yet the test is still being used to bring murder charges — and get convictions. — … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, costs of wrongful convictions, Forensic Science Bias, post mortem interval | Leave a comment